COLCHESTER 29 TENDRING BARBARIANS 15
15 March 2004

Colchester took on Tendring Barbarians in a game to commemorate to visit of the Webb Ellis Cup to Colchester Rugby Club.  The Barbarians, captained by Clacton's Lee Amman started with all guns blazing, running the ball at every opportunity and keeping Colchester on the back foot.  But the home team fought back and were first on the scorecard through a Neil Hamilton try.  

Colchester began to dominate although darting runs from Barbarian fly half Bloom (Mistley) did cause problems.  However, tries by Chris Allan and James Gee extended Colchester's lead to 17-0 and the large crowd wondered if the game was to become one-sided.  However, Tendring Barbarians stuck true to their attacking traditions and scored a try through Mersea's Darryl Walters, and when a second try by scrum half Jake Buxey (Clacton) closed the gap to 17-10 the game was well poised.

Both sides kept up the furious pace in the second half, with Welshman Richard Berezai showing some blistering speed on the wing for Colchester.  Eventually James Gee scored a second try from a rolling maul, but Tendring were not to be outdone, Mersea's Stuart Bradshaw once more closing the gap to 7 points.  All the players put everything into the last spell, and it wasn't until Colt Marcus Sherifi scored five minutes from time that Colchester could be sure of victory.

Tries: Darryl Walters (Mersea Island), Jake Buxey (Clacton), Stuart Bradshaw (Mersea Island)

Proceeds from games are donated to The Wooden Spoon Society